Leupold is a brand that we all can get behind. They make some of the best top-end riflescopes that you can buy. Leupold VX3i is a well-rounded scope for hunters like the Leupold VX-R Patrol riflescope. Doesn’t matter how skilled or novice you are, you can use the VX-3i without any problems.
One of the best things about this scope is Leupold’s twilight light management system.
The new VX3i offers better performance and more reticles than its predecessor. Let’s talk about those upgrades and why you must read this Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10×40 review.
Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10X40: Outlooks
Specifications | Magnification: 3.5 – 10x; Objective Lens: 40 mm; Eye Relief: 3.6 – 4.4 Inches; Exit Pupil: 11.43 – 4 mm; Linear FOV @100 yds: 29.8 – 11 ft; Length: 12.7 Inches; Weight: 12.6 Oz.
Build Quality
Like every other riflescope from Leupold, this one is also made out of high-quality machined aircraft-grade aluminum. It’s good to see that Leupold is not cutting corners with the build quality.
As the build quality is quite good, you can easily use it with AR rifles and sniper rifles. As long as you are not pushing it with Magnums you will be fine. It can take some hits, but not that hard.
The entire inside of the tube is nitrogen-purged. Thanks to that, the scope is fog and moistureproof. VX-3i is also waterproof. You won’t think it’s durable at the first glance. The build is not rugged. From what I have seen, VX-3i doesn’t need a rugged body by any means.
Optics Quality
One of the key points is where Leupold tends to take the dove over other competitions. Leupold always pours their heart out behind their scopes. You can see that here. It clearly shows they tried to take the good old VX series to the next level. From build quality to optics and reticle. Everything on this scope was improved over the VX-2.
All of the glasses involved in this scope are fully multi-coated. The 40mm objective lens gathers plenty of light. Thanks to the anti-glare coatings, instead of bouncing, the necessary lights go through and the unnecessary one reflects. But, you won’t see the reflection as it’s anti-glare coated.
On top of all this, Leupold didn’t forget to add the Twilight Light management system. It’s an advanced technology invented by Leupold for their riflescope. Instead of using ED glasses, Leupold uses the twilight light management system to improve vision during low light.
One can say, your fun doesn’t end when it gets dark. I now want to see a budget scope from Leupold with the Twilight Light Management system and ED glass. Imagine that! My mouth watering from thinking about that.
Range (Magnification)
If you were thinking of this scope as your long-range hunting remedy, sorry to disappoint you. This is not a long-range scope. The base magnification of the scope is just only 3.5x. You can increase that to 10x with the magnification ring. But that’s not enough for 600-800 yards of hunting range shooting.
It is capable of providing a great mid-range hunting experience. If you own an AR rifle and want to try out range hunting with it, go for the VX-3i 3.5-10x40mm.
Range (Reticle)
Unlike the previous generation, VX-3i offers 3 types of the reticle to choose from. My personal favorite is the Duplex one. You can choose from Duplex, Wind-Plex, Boone & Crockett.
All of them are easy to read and get used to. There aren’t unnecessary clusters on the reticle. Just look at it and tell me if you don’t like it.
Turrets
Till now it’s been all glory and wins for VX-3i. What’s the catch here? Unfortunately for us, the catch lies in the turrets. Most of the user’s complaints about this scope are either turret-related or the magnification ring.
I don’t know about others but my unit magnification ring had no issue whatsoever. I checked on some forums to find out about the magnification ring issue. Surprisingly a lot of them share the same opinion as me. They are not satisfied with the turret quality but have no complaints about the magnification ring.
The turrets are low-profile capped aluminum ones. They are decent, but the clickiness that you expect from a turret is just not there. It’s easy to miss hearing the noise and over-crank it. That’s why people were complaining about them. I don’t mind their looks that much.
Pros
- Good build quality.
- Excellent optics.
- Twilight light management system.
- Lifetime warranty.
- Excellent at low light.
Cons
- Turrets don’t have zero.
- Turret revolutions are hard to keep track of.
Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10X40 Review Summary
It’s a good scope with its flaws. It’s not perfect but nearly there. I know the turrets are going to be a deal-breaker for a lot of you guys. I also know that a beginner won’t care that much about those either. If you want to know how good low-profile turrets are and what is it like to have them. This can be an excellent bridge to have that experience.
Hi, I’m Brent Hansford. A writer turned hunter & now sharing my love for the sport through writing. As I practically breathe weapons, I firmly believe I’m capable of providing you with new knowledge about firearms and hunting. My mission is to help more people get better at hunting & master the weapons. Let me help with unleashing the beast within you!
